Poll shift: Durotoye, activist slam INEC

The presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria, Mr Fela Durotoye, has described the postponement of Saturday’s elections as a global disgrace.

A civil rights activist, Dr Kayode Ajulo, also protested against the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly polls.

Durotoye said, “We are so disappointed with the announcement of the postponement of the elections. Today was a day that history was supposed to be made,” he said on Instagram Television, popularly known as IGTV.

Durotoye however appealed to the electorate not not be dismayed by the development.

“They can only delay the elections, they can’t delay our destiny, which is to have a new Nigeria where promises are kept,” he stated.

“We don’t need this national embarrassment. This is a national disappointment and embarrassment. It is a global disgrace.”

The 47-year-old ANN presidential candidate slammed the Independent National Electoral Commission for its poor preparations for the polls.

He said, “Everywhere across the world, people set dates. For four years, they knew we were going to have elections. How do we postpone elections at 3am on election day?

“People left their homes because the system did not work, they couldn’t transfer their Permanent Voter Cards, so they travelled. People left their children at home to travel to vote to deliver a new Nigeria. Some came in from abroad.”

Durotoye said the postponement was a “systematic way to frustrate the people and disenfranchise them, especially first-time voters”.

He added, “I challenge the youths to be awake. They should not be discouraged. Your efforts would only amount to waste if you don’t show up at the polling centres next Saturday.”

Ajulo, who is also the Executive Director of Egalitarian Mission for Africa, an Non-Governmental Organisation, said this in a statement.

He said, “It is unacceptable for INEC, which solely bears the blame for this embarrassing development to have merely announced a postponement, which comes with costs and consequences without a word to the effect of penitence and sore apologies.”

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